Board of Directors

Dustin is an advanced practice registered nurse who is board certified and licensed as a family nurse practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). He is the CEO and founder of Tallgrass Primary Care & House Calls, a home-based primary care practice. Dustin received his training from Graceland University in Independence, Missouri, where he received a Master's in Nursing as a family nurse practitioner and nurse educator. He obtained his undergraduate degree at MidAmerica Nazarene University, where he has served as clinical faculty for the last 5 years. He is a Kansas native, born in Ottawa. He comes with over 20 years of diverse healthcare experience serving patients in small medical practices to large academic medical centers. Dustin serves on the board of the Kansas State Nurses Association (KSNA), Kansas Advanced Practice Nurse Association (KAPN), and is a strong advocate for elder care. In his pastime he enjoys going on mission trips to serve and minister to the indigenous people of Guatemala. 

Belinda Childs is Executive Director and a Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist at Great Plains Diabetes. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Nursing at Wichita State University. She graduated from Wichita State University with a Masters in Nursing, Diabetes Nurse Specialist. She started working with Drs. Richard and Diana Guthrie at KU Medical School-Wichita in 1979, moved to MidAmerica Diabetes Associates and was with them from 1985 until Dr. Guthrie’s retirement in 2014. She then founded Great Plains Diabetes Clinic with the support of the Board with Julie Dvorak, RN,CDE and Rita Pedigo. Mrs. Childs served as editor for Diabetes Spectrum from 2001 to 2005, is the editor of The Complete Nurses Guide to Diabetes Care, and has authored several publications. She is a member of American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and the American Diabetes Association (where she is a past president of Health Care & Education) and the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses, currently serving as a Director, CNS. Mrs. Childs is the 2010 recipient of the American Diabetes Association's Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award and the 1997 recipient of the American Diabetes Association Dr. Rachmiel Levine Award. She also served on the 2005/2012 ADA Advisory Panel on hypoglycemia and has served on the International Hypoglycemia Study Group board since it’s inception. She has been married to Rick since 1975, has two adult children, and enjoys her farm on weekends in North Central Kansas.

Janelle Williamson, MSN, NP-C, ACHPN, FPCN is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse practitioner practicing with the Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care team at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka. Janelle has practiced as an NP since 2007 and is a graduate of Washburn University. She has served in numerous leadership roles including 2 terms on the Kansas State Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Council and 2 terms on the Douglas County VNA Board of Directors. She volunteers with various committees with the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association and has experience in various advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels. She resides in Topeka, where she was born and raised, with her husband and two sons.

Jennifer Thornberry, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC is an Assistant Professor at Wichita State University for the Graduate School of Nursing. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Kentucky in 1992, her Master of Science in Nursing at Murray State University in 1997, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Wichita State University in 2020. She has practiced as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 1997 in the areas of Family Practice, Urgent Care, Student Health, and Retail Health. Jennifer and her husband live in Wichita, Kansas with 3 children, a dog, two cats, a rabbit, and many fish in their pond. Jennifer enjoys gardening, quilting, reading, and traveling.

Sonia graduated with an Associates Degree in Nursing in 1996. She worked in a small rural hospital while obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University. Sonia’s Master in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner was obtained in 2000 from the University of Kansas. After working for a family practice clinic as a primary care nurse practitioner for 4 years, Sonia decided to begin pursuing her career in anesthesia. Graduating in 2006 with a Masters Degree in Nurse Anesthesia and in 2017 with a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia Practice both from Texas Wesleyan University.   Sonia obtained her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree from Washburn University in 2020. Sonia is triple board certified in nurse anesthesia, as a family nurse practitioner, and as a psychiatric  mental health nurse practitioner. Her Nurse Anesthesia Certification is held by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA),  her Nurse Practitioner certification is through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP) and her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification is through  American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is a member of the the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners  where she is a member of the Advanced Practice Provider Panel. Sonia also belongs to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and American Nurses Association. 

As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), I am deeply committed to empowering patients to optimize their health by meeting them where they are and providing care that aligns with best practices. My approach emphasizes patient education and evidence-based strategies to enhance health and wellness outcomes.

I am passionate about health policy and advocacy, particularly in supporting fellow APRNs in understanding and amplifying their voices within the policy arena. In my current roles as Director at Large, Legislative Chair and Social Media Chair for the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses (KAPN) and as a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, I work to advance the interests of APRNs and promote the value of advanced practice nursing.

I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in December 2023—Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! Currently, I serve as an Education Specialist at The University of Kansas Health System, where I facilitate nursing orientation and Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses.

Beyond my professional commitments, I am an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), KAPN, and Sigma. Outside of work, I enjoy running, photography, spending time with my family, and walking my Labradoodle, Daisey.

Dr. Laurel Short is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Sunflower Medical in Roeland Park, Kansas. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nursing from Luther College and a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Kansas. She completed her Doctor of Nursing degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with an emphasis on self-management for chronic migraine. Self-management for chronic conditions has been a focus for Laurel throughout her nursing career, and she is passionate about partnering with patients to maximize their function and wellness. Prior to joining Sunflower Medical Group, Laurel worked in the area of physical medicine and rehabilitation for ten years. This specialty involves addressing functional issues for orthopedic and neurologic conditions, and she enjoys blending this experience with primary care.

Procedures and special skills Laurel offers include muscle and joint evaluation and injections, headache management, durable medical equipment (DME) consultations, and therapeutic lifestyle coaching.

She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Headache Medicine. Laurel is an active leader with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals.

Outside of the office, you will find her training for endurance events, traveling, and chasing after her two young children.

Emilie, a native of Wichita, Kansas is an independent Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Clinical Nurse Specialist with a B.A. in Philosophy from Rockhurst College, Kansas City, Missouri; a B.S. of Nursing from St Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, Kansas; and a Master of Nursing from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Emilie firmly believes that Nursing is a gift from God and has been privileged to experience the growth of nursing as a profession over the past 52 years. Fifty-two years ago, God introduced Emilie to a nursing care with which she immediately fell in love. Since that time Emilie has practiced nursing in a variety of healthcare settings including but not limited to Hospital nursing, Critical care (Coronary / Medical / Surgical / Neuro), Hospice Care, Case Management, Medical-Legal Consulting and Nursing Education. For the past 38 years Emilie has been in independent private practice specializing in Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Lifestyle Modifications & Footcare. Emilie’s clinical practice is an integration of nursing care with medical care focused on assisting individuals in their response to or lack of resources to respond to their health condition / problem. In addition to her clinical practice, for the past 40 years she has been an independent nurse educator experienced in professional and patient education. Emilie enjoys time spent with family, her horses & discussing “all forbidden topics”.

Angie is a life-long Kansan and active KAPN member.  She is an experienced NP and holds current triple certifications in Women's Health, Family Practice, and Psychiatric-Mental Health.  

Angie is a voice for NP business owners in her community and the state.  She attended KAPN group testimony to Kansas State government, which aided in the delivery of autonomous practice privileges, and was present in Topeka celebrating the passing of HB2279 in April 2022. More recently, she was present to testify before the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives advocating for increased access to care for those in a mental health crisis. 

Angie’s active community outreach and engagement throughout her career has inspired her to establish several businesses focused on delivering care to those in critical need, specifically to seniors, and those with mental health needs. She is currently serving as CCO of Corterra of Wichita, a free-standing psychiatric hospital for seniors in a mental health crisis. 

In her free time, Angie enjoys spending time with her love, a veteran Air Force Reservist Pilot and their blended and extended family, and friends. She’s a compassionate mother, earnest reader and traveler.

Laura is a Certified Nurse Midwife currently practicing at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center (NMRMC) in Chanute Kansas. Laura graduated from Indiana University South Bend with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2006 with honors. She initially worked on a Med/Surg floor but quickly transitioned to LDRP after just over a year and has spent the majority of her career helping families welcome their babies into the world. As an RN she earned her C-EFM from NCC. She also really enjoyed mentoring students and new nurses. 
In 2020 Laura applied and was accepted into the midwifery program at Frontier Nursing University. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery in December 2022. Since that time, she has worked as a hospital-based midwife at NMRMC and the Women's Health Center, providing access to care for women in South East Kansas. She is an active member of ACNM and serves on the board of the Kansas Affiliate as well as serving on the board here at KAPN as the CNM representative. 
Laura's free time (what's that?) is spent with family and friends and traveling whenever she gets the chance. Life with three teen/tween-age kids keeps things busy and she is grateful for a spouse who is able to work from home and keep things going when call schedules and baby's timing makes things interesting. Working with patients and their families to meet their needs as they go through one of life's great transitions is an honor and a privilege.